What to do? What to do?

[MMiz]

Hello!

So here's the situation. I need a dedicated server, but money is a huge issue. At this point I believe I need a managed solution, and hopefully I can work my way up to my own management. I will not be hosting clients, this will be for personal use on a project with probably a few additional domains. So here are the points Im concerned about.

1. I need a good cheap provider. I know, I know, no such one exists, but I need a compromise. I refuse to go with Burst / Nocster. Im looking to spend a total of $150 a month (I know I know) with management included (I know I know I know).

2. I cant afford cPanel, as much as Id like to use it. I would like a control panel though, and a step up from webmin. Are there any places to get ensim / plesk licenses cheaper besides directly going to the company?

3. I need overall suggestions. Please understand that Im not hosting clients, and Im not looking to be an overnight web host. Do any managed / semi-managed solutions exist?

So what do I do? Im looking for something for pretty close to nothing. :baghead:

[iBiz]

Are you sure you need a full dedicated server? There are many quailifed companies that offer large amounts of space and bw for a few domains and VPS is very popular now too.

[Chicken]

Well, due to getting this a few months ago, I have an older version of the lowest plan (this base server):

http://www.fastservers.net/dedicated/linux.shtml

Listed at $150 month and for your point #2 above, cpanel is $38/mo. extra.

Disclaimer: I do get a discount on this server, due to them graciously sponsoring this forum. However, I wouldn't have chosen them if I didn't think they were a decent provider, and thus, could recommend them.

Dialtone also offers an entry level server, not sure what CP that comes with (if any at all):
http://www.dialtone.com/prodandserv/ibmxseries/value/valuelnx.php?category=PRODUCTS+%26+SERVICES

Also $150.

In addition, I'd look over the ad forums, see if there are any specials, and maybe put a request in. Just be sure you go with someone reputable (which is why I personally chose fastservers as they've been around as powersurge.net for a long time). Don't sign up just anywhere based on price or you might end up being a customer of... TIMMAH! ;) :D

[James]

i was just goign to sajest that as well getting an account for starting off with at lest on a vhost. and then as you grow you can ease into your own dedi server hopfully making some money on your project to help cover costs.

most fully managed dedi's will run you about 250 to 450 a month.
hrmmm here is an idea tho if you have a friend who is an admin tell him you will host any sites he has if he helps tech you how to run the box and keep it up untill you know enugf and help you out from time to time. just an idea.
laters
james

[MMiz]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. Does anyone have any comments on Atjeu.com's services? They offer a dedicated server package with cPanel fully managed for $175 and have been around for a while. Im getting better at finding the good hosts, but does anyone have any comments on this one? If you feel like you're unable to post them in a public forum, please take the time to email them to me, good or bad. Thanks :)

-Matt

[MMiz]

Originally posted by Chicken:

Well, due to getting this a few months ago, I have an older version of the lowest plan (this base server):

http://www.fastservers.net/dedicated/linux.shtml

Listed at $150 month and for your point #2 above, cpanel is $38/mo. extra.

Disclaimer: I do get a discount on this server, due to them graciously sponsoring this forum. However, I wouldn't have chosen them if I didn't think they were a decent provider, and thus, could recommend them.

Dialtone also offers an entry level server, not sure what CP that comes with (if any at all):
http://www.dialtone.com/prodandserv/ibmxseries/value/valuelnx.php?category=PRODUCTS+%26+SERVICES

Also $150.

In addition, I'd look over the ad forums, see if there are any specials, and maybe put a request in. Just be sure you go with someone reputable (which is why I personally chose fastservers as they've been around as powersurge.net for a long time). Don't sign up just anywhere based on price or you might end up being a customer of... TIMMAH! ;) :D

I was all about FastServers, then they raised their prices. I believe that I would need cPanel, though I wouldnt be hosting sites for others. I would think that cPanel would save me lots of time and would be worth the extra $45 or so. Im worried that the first few months I would have to pay for a fully managed server from an outside service, and that could cost a hundred or so additional dollars, and I think I can get a better overall value elsewhere.

I could be wrong though.

[Chicken]

I'm not sure what you mean by, "Im worried that the first few months I would have to pay for a fully managed server from an outside service, and that could cost a hundred or so additional dollars..." -the two above are fully managed servers, far as I know.

[Robert]

We are with affordablecolo.com

[SaH]

Originally posted by Chicken:

I'm not sure what you mean by, "Im worried that the first few months I would have to pay for a fully managed server from an outside service, and that could cost a hundred or so additional dollars..." -the two above are fully managed servers, far as I know. I had looked at fastservers, because you suggested them so proudly.

You say "far as I know" that the 150 a month server is fully managed. Seems like they would have a lock on the managed server market at that price.

I do see on the site they offer a PSA (personal system administrator) with every dedicated box... found here (http://www.fastservers.net/dedicated/administration.shtml)

They do have an advanced monitoring plan found here (http://www.fastservers.net/dedicated/monitoring.shtml) where you can add additional ports at a cost of 5 bucks per month. According to my calculator the total (without any hardware upgrades) you would only be looking at 220.00 per month, if you opt to have all 14 other ports they list (not including specific websites)

Unless I have it wrong, that still seems like a generous deal.

Steve

[JeremyV]

What are you requesting in terms of "fully managed"? As far as fastservers is concerned, they are about as fully managed as it could get, and with cpanel installed it updates itself automatically and it is very easy to manage.

I mean.. by managed do you want them to do every single thing for you? Or do you just essentially want to make sure things are kept up and running smoothly? Either way I would also suggest FS.

First of all, once it is up and running, you can login to WHM (cpanel's management system) and control nearly every tiny detail of your server in a graphical interface. Second, with FS, their tech support is outstanding. I mean, they go above and beyond the call of duty. Every single ticket I've submitted has been answered in usually a matter of minutes, and an hour tops. Even during odd ours and weekends. They are more than willing to login to your machine and fix something if it seems amiss.

Also, once I had a server stop responding and for some reason alertra didn't notify me... but FS shot me an email very quickly notifying me of the situation and that they restarted it for me and the problem was under control.

I don't know what your linux abilities are, but I can tell you with WHM/Cpanel, if you are just doing basic stuff you will almost never have to even login to SSH to do anything. And unlike some other dedicated providers (whom I won't mention) they use quality hardware (ie. ATA133 drives and DDR) whereas other companies you may pay a few pennies less, you get hardware that could be about a decade old.

Not to mention they are located in a very well recgonized datacenter and connected to quite a robust network. I'm slightly biased because I have multiple servers with them, but after trying a few of the cheaper solutions, there was no comparison. So take it for what it's worth :)

Remember.. in hosting as much as anything, "you get what you pay for" really applies :)

[Operator]

I would say go for a RackShack.net server. The $99/month ones with Ensim loaded unto them. This is probably your best bet for a control panel as well.

[interactive]

He said something "managed".

[MMiz]

Originally posted by Operator:

I would say go for a RackShack.net server. The $99/month ones with Ensim loaded unto them. This is probably your best bet for a control panel as well.

RackShack is as unmanaged as it gets. Im not looking for a $99 server, Im looking for a good value.

FastServers seemed like a good choice, but I can get a much better deal with a different provider. The more and more I think about it, I continue to reevaluate my options and question my immediate need for a dedicated server. In the three plus years Ive used shared hosting, Ive never used more than 5 GB of transfer or used more resources than alloted to me.

I think I will take it slow. I appreciate all your input though, I really take your considerations seriously and try to form an educated conclusion, though its sometimes hard.

Thanks again,

Matt

[Chicken]

You gotta do what's right for you. No 'fully managed' provider is going to be the same as a dedicated server administrator, though some providers offer more 'fully managed' services than others. One I can think of off the top of my head, says they offer managed servers, but they define that as managing the network and the harware, which (to me) is what any dedicated server provider would and should do.

I'm sure there are many other providers, those are just the two I personally have had any experience/involvement with. I don't like to suggest places that I haven't dealt with. Not much point in that, you might as well look it up on Google for all that'd be worth :D

[Robert]

We use http://www.affordableservers.net/

Only downtime was when the Internet Worm came and visited the U.S.

[Chicken]

That dang worm can stay in South Korea (my wife's home country) thank you very much. We were down because of that flarking bastage worm.

[sunnyo]

I use Dialtone servers and have had excellent up time and customer service. The offer a $149/mth dedicated server c/w Server Enterprise Manager control panel and you can add Plesk for $20/mth additional. Highly recommended. I have 6 dedicated servers with them now and have been with them since 1999.

regards,
Paul Patience

[xester]

its the best choice for you